File:Fir-tree connector part screencap1.png

Author: Lukas M. Süss aka mechadense –
License: Public Domain –

Description: A fir-tree connector piece. One of a pair.

• The partner part is not depicted.
• The supporting rail fir tree structures above are not depicted.
• The opposing fir tree structures below are not depicted.

Imagine a second identical part mirrored on the large green plane. Now when a simple cuboid shaped plate (the locking plate) is pushed down between the two still contacting green planes then both the the depicted and the not depicted parts move apart. They are guided by the up facing fir tree structures sliding in the not depicted supporting rails above. When the two parts move apart their down-facing long fir three profiles can interlock with opposing fir trees structures that are too not depicted here. Once the locking is complete the locking plate is held in place by VdW forces. In principle such a mechanism can be both bi-stable and reversible.